See also : Certified First Responder and Emergency medical responder ---- In France, the pre-hospital care is either performed by first responders from the fire department or from a private ambulance company, or by a medical team that includes a physician, a nurse and an ambulance technician. The intermediate scale, the firefighter nurse, is only a recent evolution and is performed by nurses specially trained acting with emergency protocols; these nurses are the French equivalent of the paramedics. The first responders are thus the most frequent answer to emergency calls. First aidassociations also train their volunteers as first responders; the top diploma is exactly the same as the firefighters. They usually act in preventive first aid post, e.g. for concerts, sporting or cultural events. The volunteers first responders can take part of an emergency rescue team in case of disaster; due to the bad response time, they usually deal with minor casualties, but could theoretically act in first line. In some places, the volunteers take part of the public rescue and partly replace the firemen during the weekends.
Diploma
The lowest diploma required to be first responder in France is the PSE 1 since the large reform of 2007, but the next level : the PSE 2 is advised to be fully operational with victims. Before 2007, the diploma was the CFAPSE. This new degree is more adapted to the new responsibilities of first responders. To get the PSE 2, you need to have the PSE 1 and to have fulfil another 35 hours of training. So, at all, a PSE 2 first responder had followed 70 h of training. In addition, every CFR must also follow every year 6 hours of continuing training. The first responders activity is called secourisme or prompt secours, to make the difference with the premiers secours performed by the bystanders.
Education
Before 2007 : CFAPSE
The organization has changed in 2007. The following describes the situation between 1991 and 2006 The CFAPSE is made of ten modules:
It is possible to follow only a partial course with the E1, E2, E7, E8 and E9 modules. This "first-level" course is called the attestation de formation complémentaire aux premiers secours avec matériel-AFCPSAM.
Since 2007, there are two levels : PSE 1 and PSE 2, the PSE 2 is the equivalent of the former CFAPSE. A PSE 1 first responder is allowed to work with PSE 2 CFR, nevertheless, he has less knowledge than a PSE 2, so will only be a help to a confirmed PSE 2 worker.
Program for the PSE 1 : Premiers Secours en Equipe de niveau 1 - 35 hours
